As the final hours of 2025 tick away, New Yorkers are preparing for the annual whirlwind of celebrations, closures, and schedule changes that accompany New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Whether you’re planning to ring in 2026 with a night out in Times Square, a quiet evening at home, or a last-minute shopping spree, knowing what’s open and closed—and when your mail or trash will be collected—can make all the difference.
According to PIX11, the United States Postal Service (USPS) resumed normal operations after being closed on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. For those hoping to send or receive packages before the ball drops, there’s good news: local Post Office locations throughout New York City will remain open on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025. Regular and priority mail will be delivered as usual, and mail deposited in Blue Collection Boxes will be picked up at the regularly scheduled times.
But don’t count on the same service the following day. As Staten Island Advance reports, New Year’s Day—Thursday, January 1, 2026—is a federal holiday, and the Post Office will be closed. That means no regular mail pickups or deliveries. However, for those who need it most, priority express mail will still be delivered on New Year’s Day, offering a lifeline for urgent parcels and correspondence.
The impact of the holiday extends far beyond the mail. New Year’s Day brings a near citywide pause to many government and public services. Banks, financial markets, government offices, and courts will all be closed on January 1, 2026, as confirmed by Staten Island Advance. The State Department of Motor Vehicles will also shut its doors for the day, and schools across the city will be closed, giving students a well-deserved break to start the year.
Sanitation services are also affected. There will be no garbage, recycling, or organics collection, and no street cleaning on January 1. Residents who normally receive Thursday trash, recycling, or curbside compost collection are advised to place their materials out at the curb on the evening of January 1 for collection beginning Friday, January 2. The city’s Sanitation Department cautions that collection delays are common after holidays, so patience may be required as crews catch up. For those with questions about sanitation services or holiday schedules, the city recommends contacting 311 or visiting nyc.gov/sanitation.
Parking rules take a holiday as well. City parking meters will not be in effect on New Year’s Day, and alternate side parking rules are suspended. However, drivers should be aware that stopping, standing, and parking are still prohibited in areas where those restrictions apply seven days a week, such as zones marked “No Standing Anytime.” For many, this offers a rare opportunity to park a little more freely—just not everywhere.
Public transportation, meanwhile, will be running, but on a modified schedule. Both MTA buses and subways will operate on a Sunday schedule throughout January 1, 2026, according to Staten Island Advance. That means fewer trains and buses than a typical weekday, so riders should allow extra travel time and check schedules in advance. The Staten Island Ferry will also shift to a holiday schedule, with boats departing from each terminal every 30 minutes throughout the day—on the hour and half-hour—ensuring that those who need to travel between Staten Island and Manhattan can still do so with reasonable convenience.
If you’re hoping to take advantage of the holiday for some shopping, you’re in luck. Several major retailers will keep their doors open on New Year’s Day. The Staten Island Mall in New Springville will welcome shoppers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while Walmart and Walgreens locations across New York City will also be open for business. That means last-minute party supplies, forgotten groceries, or a little retail therapy are all within reach, even as much of the city pauses to celebrate.
One notable exception: the Staten Island Advance itself will not publish on January 1, 2026. Readers will have to wait until the following day for their next edition of local news.
For those who rely on the city’s rhythms—be it the daily mail, the hum of subway trains, or the routine of trash collection—these holiday adjustments can be both a welcome break and a minor headache. But they’re all part of the annual dance that marks the transition from one year to the next in New York City. As Spencer Gustafson, a digital content producer for PIX11, notes, it’s worth checking your local Post Office’s hours if you have urgent mail to send or receive on New Year’s Eve. For everything else, a little planning—and perhaps a bit of patience—will help smooth the way into 2026.
For families, the holiday means a day off from school and, for many, a chance to gather together. For workers in essential services, like those delivering priority express mail or operating public transportation, it’s another day on the job—albeit with a different pace. And for the city as a whole, it’s a moment to pause, reflect, and prepare for whatever the new year may bring.
So as the city prepares to count down to midnight, New Yorkers can rest assured that while not everything will be open or running on its usual schedule, essential connections—like express mail and public transit—will keep moving, just a little differently. And come January 2, the city will quickly snap back to its familiar, bustling routine.
